What is the purpose of SERB - POWER Fellowship?

SERB - POWER Fellowship is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Science, IT & Communications, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.

Who can apply for SERB - POWER Fellowship?

Eligibility for SERB - POWER Fellowship may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.

What benefits are offered under SERB - POWER Fellowship?

Benefits under SERB - POWER Fellowship may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.

Which department manages SERB - POWER Fellowship?

SERB - POWER Fellowship is managed by Department Of Science & Technology and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.

Can users apply online for SERB - POWER Fellowship?

Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for SERB - POWER Fellowship through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.

Is Aadhaar mandatory for SERB - POWER Fellowship?

Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.

Where can users apply for SERB - POWER Fellowship?

Applications for SERB - POWER Fellowship may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.

What documents may be required for SERB - POWER Fellowship?

Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.

Is SERB - POWER Fellowship a central government scheme?

Yes, SERB - POWER Fellowship is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.

Is SERB - POWER Fellowship only for women beneficiaries?

SERB - POWER Fellowship is primarily intended to support eligible women beneficiaries through welfare assistance, financial support, skill development, healthcare, or social security initiatives.

Does SERB - POWER Fellowship support self-employment or financial assistance for women?

Depending on scheme guidelines, SERB - POWER Fellowship may provide loans, subsidies, training support, self-employment assistance, or financial welfare benefits for women.

Can CSC centres help users apply for SERB - POWER Fellowship?

Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.

How can users check the latest updates for SERB - POWER Fellowship?

Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.

Can beneficiaries track application status for SERB - POWER Fellowship?

Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.

Where can users get help for SERB - POWER Fellowship in All India?

Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.

Which nearby public services may help with SERB - POWER Fellowship applications?

Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.

SERB - POWER Fellowship – eligibility, benefits & apply

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): No

Categories: Science, IT & Communications, Women and Child

Sub-categories: Research & Development

Target beneficiaries: Individual

Tags: SERB, POWER, Fellowship, Woman, Research, Science

Details

SERB - POWER (Promoting Opportunities For Women in Exploratory Research) Fellowship was launched by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering research funding in various S&T programs in Indian academic institutions and R&D Laboratories. The fellowship is aimed to enhance diversity in research to ensure equal access and weighted opportunities for Indian women scientists engaged in research and development activities.

Objectives:

The fellowship is designed to identify and reward excellent women researchers in Indian academic institutions and R&D laboratories, holding Ph.D. degrees in any branch of science and engineering.

Duration of Fellowship:

Fellowship duration will be fixed for three years, without the possibility of extension.
Successful POWER Fellows cannot be re-nominated for the second time.

Benefits

1. Fellowship of ₹15 000/- per month in addition to regular income. 1. Research grant of ₹10 Lakhs per annum. Research grants can be used for minor equipment research personnel consumables contingencies and domestic travel. 1. Overheads for the host institute

Fellowship of ₹15,000/- per month in addition to regular income.
Research grant of ₹10 Lakhs per annum. Research grants can be used for minor equipment, research personnel, consumables, contingencies, and domestic travel.
Overheads for the host institute.

Eligibility

The nominee should be an active woman scientist with an excellent record of research performance as an independent investigator.
The nominee should be an outstanding woman researcher and innovator working in Indian academic institutions and R&D laboratories, holding Ph.D. degrees in any branch of science and engineering.
The nominee should be in regular service throughout the duration of the Fellowship.
The nominee should be an Indian citizen between 35-55 years of age working in institutions in India.
The nominee should not be receiving any other fellowships from Government sources during the tenure.

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

6.5

/ 10

Public Benefit Score

Accessibility 5.0/10 Moderate

Rural usefulness 2.0/10 Challenging

Application complexity 6.0/10 Moderate

Financial impact 9.5/10 Good

Literacy barrier 7.0/10 Challenging

Women inclusivity 10.0/10 Good

Awareness 7.5/10 Good

Implementation reliability 8.0/10 Good

Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens

Accessibility5.0
Financial impact9.5
Rural utility2.0
Awareness7.5
Simplicity4.0
Inclusivity10.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The SERB - POWER Fellowship aims to promote women in science and engineering by providing financial support and recognition.

Key challenges addressed

Gender disparity in research funding
Encouragement of women scientists

Most beneficial for

Women researchers holding Ph.D. degrees
Women in academic institutions and R&D laboratories

Likely challenges

Limited awareness among potential applicants
Dependence on institutional heads for nominations

Practical insights for citizens

Practical for eligible women researchers but may face challenges in rural areas

Rural challenges

Limited access to online resources
Dependence on institutional heads for nominations

Digital challenges

High digital dependency may exclude non-tech-savvy applicants

Implementation bottlenecks

Need for institutional endorsement may delay applications

Awareness challenges

Low awareness among potential beneficiaries

Application analysis

Application mode: Online portal
Documents burden: Minimal, no specific documents required
Verification complexity: Moderate, requires institutional nomination
Office dependency: High, relies on institutional heads for nominations
CSC support: Limited
Estimated citizen effort: Moderate, requires online application and institutional support

Estimated beneficiary reach

Rural / urban reach Moderate
Gender reach High
Occupation reach Academics and Research

Benefit analysis

Benefit type: Composite
Benefit frequency: Monthly and Annually
Benefit practicality: Financial support is meaningful for research activities
Financial meaningfulness: 7
Long-term impact: Encourages sustained participation of women in research

Plain-language guidance

The SERB - POWER Fellowship supports women researchers in science and engineering with financial aid and recognition. Eligible candidates must be nominated by their institutions.

Who should apply: Women researchers with a Ph.D. in science or engineering.
Who may struggle: Women in rural areas with limited access to technology or institutional support.
Best application route: Apply through your institution's head or a fellow of a national academy.

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Online

Nomination Procedure:

Applications for the POWER fellowship are invited through nominations.
The nominations should be sent by the Heads of the Institutions or Fellows of National Academies.
The nominations will be received throughout the year through online only.

Application Procedure:

Step 01: The applicant will fill out the application form on the online portal. After submission of the form, a mail containing a link will be sent to the nominator by SERB.
Step 02: The nominator will click on the link provided in the mail to find the details of the application. After verification of the details, he/she will forward the nomination to SERB.

Selection Procedure:

Selection of POWER Fellows will be made twice a year by a specially constituted Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted for the purpose.

For queries & more:

Email: serb-power@serb.gov.in

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

Who is eligible for SERB Power Fellowship?: Those who are eligible for SERB Power Fellowship are: Outstanding women researchers and innovators working in Indian academic institutions and R&D laboratories, holding Ph.D. degrees in any branch of science and engineering. The nominee should be an active scientist with an excellent record of research performance as an independent investigator or innovator. The nominee should be in regular service throughout the duration of the Fellowship.
Is there any age limit for PI to be eligible for the award?: PI should be within 35-55 years at the time of submission of proposal.
I am already availing another Fellowship. Am I eligible for SERB Power Fellowship?: No, you can avail only one fellowship at a time from government source.
Is the Fellowship received under SERB Power Fellowship taxable?: Yes, the Fellowship received under SERB Power Fellowship is taxable as per I.T. rules.
What are the areas covered under SERB Power Fellowship?: All Areas of Science (in the broadest terms) are covered by this Fellowship.
What is the nature of support the SERB Power Fellow is entitled for?: Nature of Support SERB Power Fellow is entitled for are: Fellowship of ₹15,000/- per month in addition to regular income. Research grant of ₹ 10 lakhs per annum. Overhead for the institute.
What is the duration of the SERB Power Fellowship?: The SERB Power Fellowship duration is for 3 years only, without any possibility of extension.
How many times a person can avail SERB Power Fellowship?: A person can avail SERB Power Fellowship only once. Successful POWER Fellows cannot be nominated for a second time.
When can a person apply for the SERB Power Fellowship? What is the last date of acceptance of the application?: The nominations for the SERB Power Fellowship are accepted throughout the year through online portal only(www.serbonline.in) and there is no last date of acceptance of the nomination.
Who can nominate for SERB Power Fellowship?: Heads of Institutions or Fellows of National academies can send the nominations.
How does a SERB Power Fellow get her subsequent Grant?: The Grant for the subsequent years is released after receiving the two hard copies of Statement of Expenditure (SE) and Utilization Certificate (UC)in the prescribed format (available in the website). The SE and UC are to be submitted financial year wise i.e. from 01stApril to 31stMarch. For the first year it would be from the Date of Start (DOS) to 31stMarch and subsequently from 01stApril to 31stMarch.
Can a fellow change the host institute during implementation of SERB Power Fellowship?: A SERB Power fellow can change the host institute during implementation of SERB Power Fellowship. She has to forward NOCs from both the Institutes along with final financial papers indicating balance unspent grant from the old institute, undertaking certificate and appointment letter from the new Institute indicating the joining date and duration of the appointment.
Is there a provision for extension of the fellowship?: No, there is no provision for extension.
What is the selection criteria of POWER Fellowship?: Selection of POWER Fellows will be made twice a year by a specially constituted Search-cum-Selection Committee.
Under which heads research grant can be used?: Research Grant of ₹10 lakh per annum can be used for minor equipment, research personnel, consumables, contingencies, and domestic travel.
What is the procedure to apply for a SERB Power Fellowship?: In first step, an applicant will fill the application form on online portal. After submission of the form, a mail containing a link will be sent to the nominator by SERB. In second step, nominator will click on the link as provided in the mail to find the details of the application. After verification of the details he/she will forward the nomination to SERB.
Can SERB POWER Fellowship research grant be used for international travel?: No, SERB POWER Fellowship research grant can not be used for international travel.
I am away from my institute/university for more than 6 weeks. Do I have to take permission from SERB?: Yes, you have to take permission from SERB.
I am a SERB-POWER fellow, and I am visiting abroad for more than 8 weeks. Can I avail the fellowship amount and research grant for my duration of visit?: The PI will not be eligible to avail the fellowship amount or receive the research grant and overhead charges under SERB POWER Fellowship during the tenure of visit (if no student is drawing fellowship/salary/emoluments from the project).
I am travelling abroad to attend a conference. Can I use the research grant for the travel expense?: The travel expenses related to foreign assignment will not be covered from the research grant under the SERB POWER Fellowship.
I am a SERB POWER fellow, and I am planning to visit abroad for a certain period as part of one collaboration work. Can I get an extension for that period after the completion of the project?: The PI will not be allowed any kind of extension based on the claimed visit in the SERB POWER Fellowship.

Official links

References

Official Website: https://serb.gov.in/page/awards_fellowship
Scheme Details: https://serb.gov.in/page/awards_fellowship#SERB%20POWER%20Fellowship

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of SERB - POWER Fellowship?: SERB - POWER Fellowship is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Science, IT & Communications, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for SERB - POWER Fellowship?: Eligibility for SERB - POWER Fellowship may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under SERB - POWER Fellowship?: Benefits under SERB - POWER Fellowship may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages SERB - POWER Fellowship?: SERB - POWER Fellowship is managed by Department Of Science & Technology and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for SERB - POWER Fellowship?: Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for SERB - POWER Fellowship through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for SERB - POWER Fellowship?: Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for SERB - POWER Fellowship?: Applications for SERB - POWER Fellowship may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for SERB - POWER Fellowship?: Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is SERB - POWER Fellowship a central government scheme?: Yes, SERB - POWER Fellowship is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
Is SERB - POWER Fellowship only for women beneficiaries?: SERB - POWER Fellowship is primarily intended to support eligible women beneficiaries through welfare assistance, financial support, skill development, healthcare, or social security initiatives.
Does SERB - POWER Fellowship support self-employment or financial assistance for women?: Depending on scheme guidelines, SERB - POWER Fellowship may provide loans, subsidies, training support, self-employment assistance, or financial welfare benefits for women.
Can CSC centres help users apply for SERB - POWER Fellowship?: Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for SERB - POWER Fellowship?: Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for SERB - POWER Fellowship?: Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for SERB - POWER Fellowship in All India?: Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with SERB - POWER Fellowship applications?: Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.